Descriptive Research Strategy: Chapter 13

Question 1

characteristics of qualitative measurement

Answer 1

• exploratory
• no hypothesis
• narrative report
• small n
• theory building

Question 2

characteristics of quantitative measurement

Answer 2

• confirmatory
• hypothesis
• statistical analyses
• large n
• theory confirming

Question 3

quantitative research: categories

Answer 3

I:
- descriptive
II:
- correlational
III:
- experimental
- quasi-experimental
- non-experimental

Question 4

level of constraint

Answer 4

• how much control is exercised over the data collection
• the more rules and the more specific & precise the
  method, the higher the level of constraint.

Question 5

high constraint

Answer 5

• higher precision & validity for
  conclusions
• not flexible

Question 6

low constraint

Answer 6

• more flexible/exploratory
• be careful about conclusions (precision? validity?)

Question 7

goal of descriptive research

Answer 7

• to describe every single variable involved
• measures a variable or set of variables as they exist naturally
• not concerned with associations between variables

Question 8

categories of descriptive research

Answer 8

• observational
• survey
• case study

Question 9

observational research: collecting data

Answer 9

• archival research
• behavioural observation
• content analysis

Question 10

behavioural observation

Answer 10

• direct observation and systematic recording in a natural setting.
• concerns:
  1. Presence of researcher/solution = habituation
  2. Subjectivity/solution = multiple raters, trained observers, clearly defined behaviors

Question 11

quantifying behavioural observations

Answer 11

• frequency method
• duration method
• interval method

Question 12

frequency method

Answer 12

counting instances of each specific behavior

Question 13

duration method

Answer 13

counting time individual spent engaging in specific
behavior during a fixed-time observation period

Question 14

interval method

Answer 14

dividing observation period into a series of intervals and recording if behavior occurs during each interval
- time sampling
- event sampling
- individual sampling

Question 15

content analysis

Answer 15

• behavioural observation
• divide into behavioural categories
  – employ multiple observers - inter-rater reliability

Question 16

archival analysis

Answer 16

• examination of historical records to measure behaviour of the past

Question 17

Types of observational research studies

Answer 17

• naturalistic / unobtrusive observation
• participant observation
• contrived / structured observation

Question 18

naturalistic observation benefits

Answer 18

+ behavior observed in real world
+ authentic / high external validity
+ observe behaviors that cannot be
manipulated

Question 19

naturalistic observation disadvantages

Answer 19

• time-consuming, observer influence
• subjective interpretation

Question 20

participant observation benefits

Answer 20

+ access to otherwise inaccessible information
+ participation offers unique insight
+ authentic / high external validity

Question 21

participant observation disadvantages

Answer 21

• time-consuming / dangerous
• ethical issues
• observer influence
• loss of objectivity

Question 22

contrived observation benefits

Answer 22

+ don’t have to wait for behavior to occur
+ can be done in lab or in the field

Question 23

contrived observation disadvantages

Answer 23

• less authentic?

Question 24

contrived observation

Answer 24

• observe participants in a setting designed to illicit the behavior of interest
• structured

Question 25

participant observation

Answer 25

- interact with participants or become one of them - go undercover

Question 26

naturalistic observation

Answer 26

- observe behavior in a natural setting as unobtrusively as possible - “fly on the wall”

Question 27

goal of survey research design

Answer 27

get a sense of people’s attitudes and behaviours in relation to a particular issue

Question 28

3 major areas of consideration for survey

Answer 28

1. question content/wording of questions 2. the response format 3. administering a survey

Question 29

demographic information

Answer 29

- age - educational level - ethnicity - gender - income level - living condition - language spoken - marital status - program of study - profession

Question 30

survey questions: things to look out for

Answer 30

1. is the question necessary or useful? - what level of detail is required? 2. are several questions needed? - is the main question enough or do you need further clarification? 3. is your question double-barrelled? 4. do respondents have the needed information? - ask a filter question first - is the terminology too complex? - are acronyms easily understood? 5. is the question biased or loaded 6. will respondents answer truthfully? 7. is the question specific enough?

Question 31

response format

Answer 31

- open-ended questions - restricted questions - rating-scale questions

Question 32

open-ended questions

Answer 32

- introduce a topic and allow participants to respond in their own words - can give indication of how much detail you want

Question 33

restricted questions

Answer 33

- present a limited number of response alternatives - can add element of openness (other)

Question 34

rating-scale questions

Answer 34

require selection of a numerical value on a predetermined scale

Question 35

semantic differential scale

Answer 35

- multiple response options, polar opposites - draw line across dash

Question 36

administering a survey

Answer 36

- Internet survey - mail surveys - telephone surveys - in-person surveys and interviews

Question 37

Internet survey strength

Answer 37

- efficient to administer to a large number of participants - access to large number of individuals with common characteristics - can be individualized based on participant's responses

Question 38

Internet survey weaknesses

Answer 38

- initial expense for site - may not be representative - cannot control the composition of the sample

Question 39

mail survey strengths

Answer 39

- convenient and anonymous - nonthreatening to participants - easy to administer

Question 40

mail survey weaknesses

Answer 40

- can be expensive, time-consuming - low response rate and nonresponse bias - unsure exactly who completes the survey

Question 41

telephone surveys strengths

Answer 41

- can be conducted from home or office - participants can stay at home or office

Question 42

telephone surveys weaknesses

Answer 42

- time-consuming - potential for interview bias

Question 43

in-person survey strengths

Answer 43

- efficient to administer with groups - 100% response rate - flexible (group or individual interviews)

Question 44

in-person survey weaknesses

Answer 44

- time-consuming - risk of interviewer bias

Question 45

case study

Answer 45

- in-depth examination of one or more individuals of interest - idiographic approach

Question 46

case studies: if no treatment or intervention =___

Answer 46

case history

Question 47

case study: strengths

Answer 47

- not averaged over diverse group - detailed description - vivid, powerful, convincing - compatible with clinical work - can study rare and unusual events - can identify exceptions to the rules

Question 48

case study: weaknesses

Answer 48

- limited generalization - potential for selective bias - potential for subjective interpretation